Pharmaceutical injection device and storage case therefor

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical injection device, and it is an object thereof to prompt the user to replace the injection needle as needed. To achieve this object, the present invention is configured such that a needle detector switch  8  that directly or indirectly detects the mounting of an injection needle to a pharmaceutical syringe  5  is provided to a main case  2 , this needle detector switch  8  is connected to a controller  21 , and the controller  21  displays on a display component  19  an injection needle removal message that directly or indirectly prompts the user to remove an injection needle  6  from the pharmaceutical syringe  5  when the mounting of the injection needle  6  to the pharmaceutical syringe  5  has been detected by the needle detector switch  8  in the switching off the a power switch  16.

This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/773,183 filedSep. 4, 2015, which is the national phase of PCT Application No.PCT/JP2014/001311 filed Mar. 7, 2014, which claims priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2013-046323 and claims priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2013-235295 filed Nov. 13, 2013. Thecontents of all of these applications are incorporated by referenceherein in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical injection device forinjecting insulin, growth hormones, or other such pharmaceuticals, andto a storage case for the same.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional pharmaceutical injection device of this type comprises amain case that has a pharmaceutical syringe mounting component, a pistonthat is provided movably with respect to the pharmaceutical syringemounted to the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component, a driver thatdrives this piston, a controller that is electrically connected to thisdriver, a display component that is electrically connected to thiscontroller, and a power switch. With this configuration, a needledetector switch that detects the state of mounting of an injectionneedle to a pharmaceutical syringe is provided to the main case, andthis needle detector switch is connected to the controller (see PatentLiterature 1, for example).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: WO 2012/066767

SUMMARY Technical Problem

In a conventional example, since the mounting of an injection needle toa pharmaceutical syringe can be detected, the user will not forget tomount the injection needle when it is time for a pharmaceuticalinjection.

However, even with this conventional example, there is no reminder aboutremoving the injection needle from the pharmaceutical syringe, and as aresult, the injection needle that was used in the previous injection mayend up being used again the next time, so there has been a need forimprovement in this regard.

That is, an injection needle that has already been used is preferablynot used again the next time, and this is the area in which improvementwas needed.

In view of this, it is an object of the present invention to provide apharmaceutical injection device with which the user can be prompted touse the device properly, as well as a storage case for the same.

Solution to Problem

To achieve the stated object, the present invention comprises a maincase, a piston, a driver, a power switch, a display component, a needledetector, and a controller. The main case has a pharmaceutical syringemounting component to which a pharmaceutical syringe is mounted. Thepiston is provided movably with respect to the pharmaceutical syringemounted to the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component. The driverdrives the piston. The power switch switches power on and off. Thedisplay component is provided to the main case. The needle detectordirectly or indirectly detects the mounting of an injection needle. Thecontroller displays on the display component a message directly orindirectly prompting the user to remove the injection needle when themounting of the injection needle has been detected by the needledetector in the switching off of the power switch.

Specifically, with the present invention, the controller causes thedisplay component to display a message directly or indirectly promptingthe user to remove the injection needle when the mounting of theinjection needle has been detected by the needle detector in theswitching off of the power switch.

Consequently, the used injection needle is removed and when it is timefor the next pharmaceutical injection, a new injection needle is mountedto the pharmaceutical syringe, and the pharmaceutical injected.

Advantageous Effects

With the pharmaceutical injection device and the storage case of thepresent invention, it is possible to encourage proper use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of the pharmaceutical injection device inEmbodiment 1 pertaining to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the pharmaceutical injection device shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram showing the simplified electricalconfiguration of the pharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 1 andits storage case;

FIG. 4 is an oblique view of a storage case for storing thepharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an oblique view of the state when the pharmaceutical injectiondevice shown in FIG. 1 has been put into its storage case;

FIG. 6 is a cross section showing the state in FIG. 5 in simplifiedform;

FIG. 7A is a flowchart of the operational control of the pharmaceuticalinjection device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7B is a flowchart of the operational control of the pharmaceuticalinjection device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an oblique view of the pharmaceutical injection device inEmbodiment 2 pertaining to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an oblique view of the state when the cover of thepharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 8 has been opened up;

FIG. 10 is an oblique view of the state when the injection needle of thepharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 8 has been mounted alongwith a protective cap;

FIG. 11 is an oblique view of the state when the protective cap of thepharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 10 has been removed;

FIG. 12 is a simplified cross section of the pharmaceutical injectiondevice shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a control block diagram showing the simplified electricalconfiguration of the pharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 8 andits storage case;

FIG. 14 is a detail cross section of the pharmaceutical injection deviceshown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 15A is a flowchart of the operational control of the pharmaceuticalinjection device shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 15B is a flowchart of the operational control of the pharmaceuticalinjection device shown in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 16a to 16c show display examples of the display component of thepharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 17 is an oblique view of the pharmaceutical injection device inEmbodiment 3 pertaining to the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a cross section of the pharmaceutical injection device shownin FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a cross section of the state when the cover of thepharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 18 has been opened up;

FIG. 20 is a cross section of the state when the cap of thepharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 19 has been removed;

FIG. 21 is a cross section of the state when the injection needle of thepharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 18 has been mounted;

FIG. 22 is a control block diagram showing the simplified electricalconfiguration of the pharmaceutical injection device shown in FIG. 17and its storage case;

FIG. 23A is a flowchart of the operational control of the pharmaceuticalinjection device shown in FIG. 17; and

FIG. 23B is a flowchart of the operational control of the pharmaceuticalinjection device shown in FIG. 17.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described throughreference to the appended drawings.

Embodiment 1 1. Configuration 1-1. External Configuration ofPharmaceutical Injection Device 101

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a pharmaceutical injection device 101 ofEmbodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a simplified cross section of the pharmaceuticalinjection device 101 in Embodiment 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pharmaceutical injection device 101 inthis embodiment comprises a main case 2 that is substantiallycylindrical and has a pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1 on thedistal end side, and a cap 3 that is detachably provided to the outerperipheral part of the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1 ofthis main case 2. In the following description, the side on which thecap 3 is disposed shall be referred to as the distal end side or thefront side, and the opposite side (the side on which a power switch 16(discussed below) is provided) as the rear end side.

A power switch 16, a pharmaceutical injection switch 17, an air ventswitch 18, and so forth are provided on the outside of the main case 2.

The power switch 16 is for turning on or off the power to thepharmaceutical injection device 101, and is provided to the end face onthe opposite side of the main case 2 from the cap 3. The pharmaceuticalinjection switch 17 is provided to a side face of the main case 2, and apharmaceutical injection operation is performed by pressing thepharmaceutical injection switch 17. A display component 19 is providedon the rear end side of the pharmaceutical injection switch 17, anddisplays various messages such as measurement results. The air ventswitch 18 is provided along the lower side of the display component 19in FIG. 1, and an air vent operation is performed by pressing the airvent switch 18.

1-2. Internal Configuration of Pharmaceutical Injection Device 101

As shown in FIG. 2, a syringe cover 4 is provided to the pharmaceuticalsyringe mounting component 1. A pharmaceutical syringe 5 is disposedinside this syringe cover 4, and a needle mounting component 4 b towhich an injection needle 6 is mounted is provided on the distal endside of the syringe cover 4.

Before this syringe cover 4 is attached to the pharmaceutical syringemounting component 1, the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is set inside thissyringe cover 4, and then the injection needle 6 is mounted to theneedle mounting component 4 b on the distal end side of the syringecover 4, resulting in a state in which the injection needle 6 has beenmounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5. More precisely, the injectionneedle 6 is fixed to an attachment component 50, and the attachmentcomponent 50 is threaded onto the needle mounting component 4 b, therebymounting the injection needle 6 to the syringe cover 4.

Thus, in a state in which the pharmaceutical syringe 5 has been mountedto the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, the cap 3 is mounted in front of the main case 2 at the outerperiphery of the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1.

The mounting of the injection needle 6 to the pharmaceutical syringe 5is directly detected by a needle detector switch 8 in the main case 2via a lever 7.

More precisely, the syringe cover 4 has an outer tube 4 a that coversthe outside of the pharmaceutical syringe 5, and the lever 7, which isdisposed on the inside of the outer tube 4 a and along the outer tube 4a, going from the distal end toward the rear end.

The distal end 7 a of the lever 7 protrudes from the outer tube 4 a tothe distal end side. Also, a protrusion 7 b is formed at the portion ofthe lever 7 that is to the rear of the outer tube 4 a. A biasingcomponent 51 such as a spring is provided that biases the protrusion 7 bto the distal side in a state in which the syringe cover 4 has beenattached to the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1. The entirelever 7 is biased by this biasing component 51 to the distal end sidewith respect to the outer tube 4 a. The needle detector switch 8 isdisposed on the rear side of the rear end 7 c of the lever 7 in a statein which the syringe cover 4 has been attached to the pharmaceuticalsyringe mounting component 1.

When the attachment component 50 is attached to the needle mountingcomponent 4 b, the distal end 7 a of the lever 7 is pushed to the rearend side by the attachment component 50, and the lever 7 is pushedagainst the biasing force of the biasing component 51 to the rear endside. The movement of the lever 7 to the rear end side causes the rearend 7 c of the lever 7 to press the needle detector switch 8, puttingthe needle detector switch 8 in its on state, and the mounting of theinjection needle 6 is detected.

Also, the mounting of the cap 3 to the main case 2 is detected by a capdetector switch 10 in the main case 2 via a lever 9. More precisely, thelever 9 is disposed along the distal end portion of the outer wall 2 sof the main case 2, on the inside thereof. A protrusion 9 b is formednear the rear end 9 c of the lever 9. A biasing component 52 that biasesthis protrusion 9 b to the distal end side is provided. The entire lever9 is biased by the biasing component 52 to the distal end side withrespect to the main case 2. The cap detector switch 10 is disposed onthe rear end side of the rear end 9 c of the lever 9.

When the cap 3 is mounted, the cap 3 pushes the distal end 9 a to therear end side, and the lever 9 is pushed to the rear end side againstthe biasing force of the biasing component 52. This movement of thelever 9 to the rear end side causes the rear end 9 c of the lever 9 topress the cap detector switch 10, putting the cap detector switch 10 inits on state, and the mounting of the cap 3 to the main case 2 isdetected.

Also, a piston 11 is provided to the rear of the pharmaceutical syringe5 in the main case 2, and this piston 11 is driven by a piston drivemotor 12. Consequently, a gasket 13 in the pharmaceutical syringe 5 ispushed forward, which causes the pharmaceutical to be pushed out of thepharmaceutical syringe 5 through the injection needle 6.

In this embodiment, a moving member 14 is provided that houses thepiston 11, the piston drive motor 12, and the rear outer periphery ofthe syringe cover 4, and this moving member 14 is configured so that itis driven forward and backward by a needle insertion and withdrawaldrive motor 15.

That is, from the state in FIG. 2, when the needle insertion andwithdrawal drive motor 15 is driven, the injection needle 6 movesforward along with the moving member 14, and as a result, the injectionneedle 6 protrudes forward through the distal end opening 3 a of the cap3, and thereby pierces the skin.

When the piston drive motor 12 is then driven, the piston 11 moves thegasket 13 forward, the result being that the pharmaceutical in thepharmaceutical syringe 5 is injected into the body through the injectionneedle 6.

In order to perform the above operation, the power switch 16, thepharmaceutical injection switch 17, the air vent switch 18, the displaycomponent 19, and a charging terminal 20 are provided to the outerperipheral face of the main case 2 as discussed above (shown in FIG. 1).

1-3. Control Configuration of Pharmaceutical Injection Device 101

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of thepharmaceutical injection device 101 in this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the needle detector switch 8, the cap detectorswitch 10, the piston drive motor 12, the needle insertion andwithdrawal drive motor 15, the power switch 16, the pharmaceuticalinjection switch 17, the air vent switch 18, the display component 19,and the charging terminal 20 are connected to a controller 21.

Of these, the piston drive motor 12 is connected to the controller 21via an encoder 22.

Also, the piston drive motor 12 and the needle insertion and withdrawaldrive motor 15 are connected to the controller 21 via a motor drivecircuit 23.

The motor drive circuit 23 is connected to the controller 21 via acurrent sensing circuit 24.

The charging terminal 20 is connected to a rechargeable battery 26 via acharging circuit 25.

The charging terminal 20 is connected to the controller 21 via acharging detector 27.

Similarly, the charging circuit 25 is also connected to the controller21.

Furthermore, a memory 28 that stores control programs and the like isconnected to the controller 21.

1-4. Storage Case 29

FIG. 4 is an oblique view of a storage case 29 used to store thepharmaceutical injection device 101 of Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is anoblique view of the state when the pharmaceutical injection device 101has been put into the storage case 29 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a crosssection showing the pharmaceutical injection device 101 and the storagecase 29 in simplified form.

The pharmaceutical injection device 101 configured as above is stored inthe storage case 29 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the charging of therechargeable battery 26 is also performed during this storage.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the storage case 29 has aplacement component 53 in which is formed a mounting recess 30 in whichthe main case 2 of the pharmaceutical injection device 101 is mounted,and a lid 32. The mounting recess 30 is formed in a shape that conformsto the outer shape of the pharmaceutical injection device 101 in a statein which the cap 3 has been attached to the main case 2. As shown inFIG. 6, a power supply terminal 31 is provided on the bottom face of themounting recess 30. When the main case 2 is mounted in the mountingrecess 30, as shown in FIG. 6, the power supply terminal 31 provided tothe mounting recess 30 comes into contact with the charging terminal 20of the main case 2, and the rechargeable battery 26 is charged.

In for the pharmaceutical injection device 101 to be stored in thestorage case 29 during charging, in the state shown in FIG. 5, the lid32 is closed and mated with the placement component 53 so as to coverthe mounting recess 30 and the pharmaceutical injection device 101.

As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply terminal 31 is connected to a powerinput 35 via a power supply circuit 33 and an input voltage protectioncircuit 34. This power input 35 has a plug or the like that can beplugged into a wall outlet or the like.

2. Operation

FIGS. 7A and 7B are flowcharts of the operation of the pharmaceuticalinjection device 101 in Embodiment 1.

With the above configuration, when a pharmaceutical is injected, thepharmaceutical injection device 101 is as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, inwhich the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is mounted to the pharmaceuticalsyringe mounting component 1 of the main case 2, and the injectionneedle 6 is also mounted and the outer periphery thereof is covered withby the cap 3.

In this state, first the power switch 16 (labeled power SW in FIGS. 7Aand 7B) is pressed and put in its on state.

The controller 21 then detects the voltage of the rechargeable battery26 via the charging circuit 25 (51 in FIG. 7A).

If the voltage of the rechargeable battery 26 is low, the controller 21emits an alarm sound from a sounder 36 connected to the controller 21shown in FIG. 3 (S2 in FIG. 7A), and then a message prompting the userto charge the battery, because the charge is low, is displayed on thedisplay component 19 (S3 in FIG. 7A). More specifically, a message of“Low battery. Charge.” is displayed on the display component 19. Afterthe message is displayed, the user presses the power switch 16 to shutoff the power, and control is ended.

Also, when the rechargeable battery 26 is at the appropriate voltagelevel, first the needle detector switch 8 detects whether or not theinjection needle 6 has been mounted (S4 in FIG. 7A).

If the injection needle 6 is determined to have not been mounted, analarm sound is emitted from the sounder 36 (S5 in FIG. 7A), and then amessage prompting the user to mount the injection needle 6 is displayedon the display component 19 (S6 in FIG. 7A). In other words, a directmessage that prompts the user to mount the injection needle 6 isdisplayed on the display component 19 as “Attach needle” (S6 in FIG.7A). In the state in S6, the system waits until the mounting theinjection needle 6 is detected, and detection of the mounting of theinjection needle 6 (S40) triggers the control to move to S4.

Next, the cap detector switch 10 detects whether or not the cap 3 hasbeen mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1 of themain case 2 so as to cover the pharmaceutical syringe 5 and theinjection needle 6 as shown in FIG. 2 (S7 in FIG. 7A).

Then, if the cap 3 is determined not to have been mounted, an alarmsound is emitted from the sounder 36 (S8 in FIG. 7A), and then a messageprompting the user to mount the cap 3 is displayed on the displaycomponent 19 (S9 in FIG. 7A). More specifically, a message of “Attachcap” is displayed on the display component 19. After the display, thesystem waits until the mounting of the cap 3 is detected in the state ofS9, and detection of the mounting of the cap 3 (S41) triggers thecontrol to move to S4. Control thus returns to S4. That is, when themounting of the needle and the mounting of the cap are detected, controlproceeds to S10.

After this, the controller 21 causes the display component 19 to give adisplay prompting the user to perform an air venting operation (S10 inFIG. 7A).

At this point, when the user presses the air vent switch 18 shown inFIG. 1, the display component 19 gives a display of “Air venting inprogress” (S11 in FIG. 7A). Next, the needle insertion and withdrawaldrive motor 15 is driven, which causes the injection needle 6 toprotrude from the distal end opening of the cap 3. In this state, thepiston drive motor 12 is then driven, which causes the gasket 13 to bepushed by the piston 11, and as a result a small amount ofpharmaceutical is ejected from the distal end of the injection needle 6,and air venting is performed. It is possible to confirm the air ventingby visually checking the ejection of the pharmaceutical.

Then, when this air venting operation is complete, the needle insertionand withdrawal drive motor 15 is reversed, putting the injection needle6 in a state of being housed in the cap 3 as shown in FIG. 2 (S12 inFIG. 7A).

After this, the controller 21 causes the display component 19 to displaywhether the air venting is complete (OK key). More specifically, an “OK”key and “Redo” key are displayed on the display component 19 along withthe message of “Has air been vented?” For example, as shown in FIG. 1, aselector switch 54 is disposed next to the air vent switch 18, the “OK”key is selected with this selector switch 54, and the air vent switch18, etc., is pressed to enter the “OK” key.

If this OK key is operated, the controller 21 then displays on thedisplay component 19 that the device is ready for injection (S13 and S14in FIG. 7A). More specifically, the controller 21 displays “Ready toinject” on the display component 19.

The user then places the distal end opening 3 a of the cap 3 (see FIG.2) against the pharmaceutical administration site (specifically, theskin).

If the pharmaceutical injection switch 17 is then operated, thecontroller 21 first causes the display component 19 to display“Injection in progress” (S15 in FIG. 7A). Next, the needle insertion andwithdrawal drive motor 15 is operated so that the injection needle 6pierces pharmaceutical administration site through the distal endopening portion 3 a of the cap 3.

Next, the piston drive motor 12 moves the piston 11 to the distal endside and pushes the gasket 13, which causes the pharmaceutical in thepharmaceutical syringe 5 to be injected into the body through theinjection needle 6.

Once the injection is finished, the piston drive motor 12 and needleinsertion and withdrawal drive motor 15 are reversed. As a result, theinjection needle 6 goes back inside the cap 3, and the piston 11 ispulled out of the pharmaceutical syringe 5 (S16 in FIG. 7A).

The controller 21 then causes the display component 19 to display thatthe pharmaceutical injection is finished (S17 in FIG. 7B). Morespecifically, a message of “Injection finished” is displayed on thedisplay component 19. After three seconds this display, the controller21 causes the display component 19 to display a message prompting theuser to put the device away (S18 in FIG. 7B). More specifically, amessage of “Put device away” is displayed on the display component 19.

Upon seeing this display, the user performs an operation to turn off thepower switch 16, and when this operation is performed, first thecontroller 21 uses the needle detector switch 8 to detect whether or notthe injection needle 6 is still mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5(S19 in FIG. 7B).

If the presence of the injection needle 6 has been confirmed by theneedle detector switch 8, an alarm sound is emitted from the sounder 36connected to the controller 21 shown in FIG. 3 (S20 in FIG. 7B), and thecontroller 21 causes the display component 19 to display a messageprompting the user to remove of the injection needle 6 (S21 in FIG. 7B).More specifically, a message of “Remove needle” is displayed on thedisplay component 19. After this, if the removal of the injection needle6 is not executed for at least 10 minutes, the controller 21 switchesoff the power to prevent unintended consumption of rechargeable battery26 (S22 in FIG. 7B). On the other hand, if the removal of the injectionneedle 6 is executed within 10 minutes, the injection needle 6 is notdetected by the needle detector switch 8 (S42 in FIG. 7B). If theinjection needle 6 is thus undetected, control proceeds to S19.

In S19, if the injection needle 6 is an undetected state, the controller21 then uses the cap detector switch 10 to detect whether or not the cap3 has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1 ofthe main case 2 (S23 in FIG. 7B).

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the mounting state of the cap 3 is detectedfor the purpose of preventing the cap 3 from being lost, by storing thecap 3 along with the main case 2 in the mounting recess 30 of thestorage case 29.

Therefore, in S23, if the presence of the cap 3 is not detected by thecap detector switch 10, and the cap 3 has not been attached to thepharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1 of the main case 2, an alarmsound is emitted from the sounder 36 connected to the controller 21shown in FIG. 3 (S24 in FIG. 7B). The controller 21 then causes thedisplay component 19 to give a display prompting the user to mount ofthe cap 3 (S25 in FIG. 7B). More specifically, a message of “Attach cap”is displayed on the display component 19.

After this, if the mounting of the cap 3 is not executed for at least 10minutes, the controller 21 switches off the power to prevent unintendedconsumption of rechargeable battery 26 (S26 in FIG. 7B). On the otherhand, if the mounting of the cap 3 is executed within 10 minutes, themounting of the cap 3 is detected by the cap detector switch 10 (S43 inFIG. 7B). When the mounting of the cap 3 is detected, control proceedsto S19.

In S23, when the mounting of the cap 3 is confirmed, the controller 21then checks the charge state with the charging detector 27, therebydetecting whether or not the main case 2 has been set in the mountingrecess 30 of the storage case 29 as shown in FIG. 5 (S27 in FIG. 7B).

That is, when the main case 2 is set in the mounting recess 30 of thestorage case 29, charging is started when the charging terminal 20 andthe power supply terminal 31 enter a conductive state, so by detectingthis conductive state the controller 21 detects that the main case 2 hasbeen set in the mounting recess 30 of the storage case 29.

Then, in S27, if the charging detector 27 has not detected the start ofcharging, an alarm sound is emitted from the sounder 36 connected to thecontroller 21 shown in FIG. 3 (S28 in FIG. 7B). The controller 21 thencauses the display component 19 to give a display prompting the user toset the main case 2 in the mounting recess 30 of the storage case 29(S29 in FIG. 7B). More specifically, a message of “Place in storagecase” is displayed on the display component 19.

After this, if the setting of the main case 2 in the mounting recess 30of the storage case 29 is not executed for at least 10 minutes, thecontroller 21 switches off the power to prevent unintended consumptionof rechargeable battery 26 (S30 in FIG. 7B). On the other hand, if thesetting of the main case 2 in the mounting recess 30 of the storage case29 is executed within 10 minutes, the start of charging is detected bythe charging detector 27 (S44 in FIG. 7B). When the start of charging isdetected, control proceeds to S19. Also, in S27, if it is detected thatthe main case 2 has been set in the mounting recess 30 of the storagecase 29, the controller 21 causes the display component 19 to displaythat the appropriate action was taken (S31 in FIG. 7B), and then turnsoff the power (S32 in FIG. 7B). In S31, specifically, the displaycomponent 19 displays a message of “See you.”

Although not shown in FIG. 7B, in S21, S25, and S29, an operationconfirmation sound may be emitted for notifying the user that theappropriate action has been taken. In this case, the operationconfirmation sound preferably as a different sound quality or rhythmfrom that of the alarm sound notification (S20, S24, S28), so as todistinguish the alarm sound from the operation confirmation sound.

3. Key Features

(3-1)

As shown in FIG. 2, the pharmaceutical injection device 101 in thisembodiment comprises the main case 2, the piston 11, the piston drivemotor 12 (an example of a driver), the power switch 16, the displaycomponent 19, the needle detector switch 8 (an example of a needledetector), and the controller 21. The main case 2 has the pharmaceuticalsyringe mounting component 1 to which the pharmaceutical syringe 5 ismounted. The piston 11 is provided movably relative to thepharmaceutical syringe 5 mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe mountingcomponent 1. The piston drive motor 12 drives the piston 11. The powerswitch 16 switches the power on or off. The display component 19 isprovided in the main case 2. The needle detector switch 8 directlydetects the mounting state of the injection needle 6. The controller 21,as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, executes first control in which a messagedirectly prompting the user to remove the injection needle 6 isdisplayed on the display component 19 when the needle detector switch 8has detected the mounting of the injection needle 6 in the switching offof the power switch 16 (S19, S21).

Thus, the mounting state of the injection needle 6 during the switchingoff of the power switch 16 is checked, and if it is detected that theinjection needle 6 has been mounted, a message to remove the injectionneedle 6 is displayed.

Consequently, the user can be prompted to remove the injection needle 6and store the pharmaceutical injection device 101 in the storage case29, so the user will be less apt to forget to remove the injectionneedle 6 when putting the device away.

Therefore, an injection needle 6 that has been used once will be lesslikely to be reused.

(3-2)

As shown in FIG. 2, the pharmaceutical injection device 101 in thisembodiment detects the mounting state of the injection needle 6 via thelever 7.

The lever 7 moves when the injection needle 6 is mounted, this movementof the lever 7 is detected by the needle detector switch 8, and themounting state of the injection needle 6 is detected.

(3-3)

As shown in FIG. 2, with the pharmaceutical injection device 101 in thisembodiment, the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is inserted into the syringecover 4 and mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1,and the needle mounting component 4 b to which the injection needle 6 ismounted is provided to the distal end of the syringe cover 4. Theinjection needle 6 has an attachment component 50 which can bedetachably attached to the needle mounting component 4 b.

Because the injection needle 6 has the attachment component 50 which canbe detachably attached to the needle mounting component 4 b, theinjection needle 6 can be mounted to the syringe cover 4. When thisattachment component 50 is attached to the needle mounting component 4b, the lever 7 is pushed by the attachment component 50 and moves to therear, and this movement is detected by the needle detector switch 8.Thus, the needle mounting state is detected.

(3-4)

The pharmaceutical injection device 101 in this embodiment furthercomprises the cap 3 and the cap detector switch 10 (an example of a capdetector). The cap 3 is detachably attached to the main case 2 so as tobe disposed around the outer periphery of the pharmaceutical syringe 5in a state of being mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe mountingcomponent 1. The cap detector switch 10 detects the mounting state ofthe cap 3. If the mounting of the cap 3 has not been detected by the capdetector switch 10 after the first control (S19, S21), the controller 21executes second control in which a message prompting the mounting of thecap 3 is displayed on the display component 19 (S23, S25).

Thus, the mounting state of the cap 3 during the switching off of thepower switch 16 is checked, and if the cap 3 has not been mounted, amessage to mount the cap 3 is displayed.

Consequently, the user can be prompted to mount the cap 3 and store thepharmaceutical injection device 101 in the storage case 29, which makesit less likely that the cap 3 will be lost.

(3-5)

The pharmaceutical injection device 101 in this embodiment comprises thecharging terminal 20 and the charging detector 27 (an example of acharging detector). The charging terminal 20 is provided to the maincase 2, and can be connected to the power supply terminal 31 provided onthe outside. The charging detector 27 is connected via the chargingcircuit 25 to the charging terminal 20, and detects the charging state.If an uncharged state is detected in the charging circuit 25 by thecharging detector 27 after second control, the controller 21 executesthird control in which the display component 19 displays a messageprompting the user to connect the charging terminal 20 to the powersupply terminal 31 (S27, S29).

Thus, the connection state of the charging terminal 20 to the powersupply terminal 31 in the switching off of the power switch 16 isdetected, and if it is not a charged state, a message to performcharging is displayed.

Consequently, since the user can be prompted to store the pharmaceuticalinjection device 101 in the storage case 29 and perform charging and, itis less likely that the battery will be low when used the next time.

4. Other Embodiments

(A)

In the above embodiment, the mounting of the injection needle 6 isdirectly detected using the needle detector switch 8 as an example of aneedle detector, but this is not the only option.

As an example of indirectly detecting the mounting of the injectionneedle 6 to the pharmaceutical syringe 5, a color marker is provided atthe distal end of the syringe cover 4, and when the injection needle 6is mounted to the distal end of the syringe cover 4, this color markeris covered by the injection needle 6 and cannot be seen, so thismounting is indirectly detected.

In this case, a light emitting element and a light receiving elementthat are utilized in barcode readers and the like will be used.

(B)

In the above embodiment, the needle detector switch 8 is used as anexample of a needle detector to directly detect the mounting of theinjection needle 6 from its being pushed down by the lever 7, but aswitch that is detected by being pushed down is not the only option. Forexample, an optical sensor having a light receiving element and a lightemitting element may be provided, and movement of the lever 7 may bedetected when the rear end 7 c of the lever 7 blocks the light of theoptical sensor.

(C)

In the above embodiment, the cap detector switch 10 is used as anexample of a cap detector to detect the mounting of the cap 3 from itsbeing pushed down by the lever 9, a switch is not the only option. Forexample, an optical sensor having a light receiving element and a lightemitting element may be provided, and movement of the lever 7 may bedetected when the rear end 9 c of the lever 9 blocks the light of theoptical sensor.

(D)

In the above embodiment, a display of “Attach needle” is given by thedisplay component 19 as a direct message prompting the user to mount theinjection needle 6, but this message may instead be indirect.

For example, the user may be indirectly prompted to mount the injectionneedle 6 by displaying a depiction of the injection needle 6 on thedisplay component 19.

(E)

In the above embodiment, a display of “Remove needle” is given by thedisplay component 19 as a direct message prompting the user to removethe injection needle 6, but this message may instead be indirect.

For example, the display component 19 may display a depiction ofremoving the injection needle 6 to indirectly prompt the user to removethe injection needle 6.

Embodiment 2

The pharmaceutical injection device 102 of Embodiment 2 will now bedescribed through reference to FIGS. 8 to 14.

The pharmaceutical injection device 102 in Embodiment 2 has the samebasic configuration as the pharmaceutical injection device 101 inEmbodiment 1, but differs from Embodiment 1 in that the mounting of theinjection needle 6 is detected indirectly. In Embodiment 2, thosecomponents that serve substantially the same function as in Embodiment 1above will be numbered the same, but a 2 will be added to the hundredsplace of the number when there is a significant change in the shape,etc.

1. Configuration 1-1. External Configuration of Pharmaceutical InjectionDevice 102

FIG. 8 is an oblique view of the pharmaceutical injection device 102 inEmbodiment 2. FIG. 9 shows the state when the cover 38 of thepharmaceutical injection device 102 in the state shown in FIG. 8 hasbeen opened up. In addition, FIG. 9 shows the state when a syringe cover204 in which the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is housed is mounted to thepharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1. FIG. 10 is an oblique viewof the state when the injection needle 6 has been mounted along with acap 39 to the pharmaceutical injection device 102 in the state FIG. 9.FIG. 11 is an oblique view of the state when the cap 39 has been removedfrom the state of the pharmaceutical injection device 102 shown in FIG.10.

As shown in FIG. 8, the pharmaceutical injection device 102 inEmbodiment 2 comprises a substantially box-shaped main case 202 havingthe pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1 on the inner distal endside. A cap 203 is detachably provided to this distal end side of themain case 202. An opening 37 is formed as shown in FIG. 9 in the face203 a on the distal end side of the cap 203. A cover 38 that is capableof sliding parallel to the face 203 a is provided as shown in FIGS. 8and 9 in order to open and close this opening 37. Thus, the cover 38 isprovided to the cap 203 that is detachably mounted to the main case 202.

Also, if we let the side on which the cap 203 is disposed be the frontside or the distal end side of the pharmaceutical injection device 102,and the opposite side thereof be the rear end side, the displaycomponent 19 is provided toward the rear end side of the front face 202a of the main case 202. The pharmaceutical injection switch 17 isdisposed on the distal end side of the display component 19 on the frontface 202 a, and selector switches 54 a and 54 b are provided on bothsides of the pharmaceutical injection switch 17 in the width direction.The power switch 16 is disposed at the end of the front face 202 a onthe rear end side. In FIG. 8, the air vent switch 18 is provided to anend face 202 b that is on the left side when viewed with the front face202 a at the front.

1-2. Internal Configuration of Pharmaceutical Injection Device 102

FIG. 12 is a simplified diagram of the internal configuration of thepharmaceutical injection device 102 in Embodiment 2.

As shown in FIG. 12, the pharmaceutical injection device 102 inEmbodiment 2 is configured such that the syringe cover 204 is installedas shown in FIG. 9 in the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1.The syringe cover 204 in Embodiment 2 differs from the syringe cover 4in Embodiment 1 in that the lever 7 is not provided. That is, thepharmaceutical injection device 102 in Embodiment 2 differs fromEmbodiment 1 in that the biasing component 51, the lever 7, and theneedle detector switch 8 for directly detecting the mounting of theinjection needle 6 are not provided.

Also, unlike in Embodiment 1, the biasing component 52, the lever 9, andthe cap detector switch 10 for detecting the mounting of the cap 203 arenot provided to the pharmaceutical injection device 102 in Embodiment 2.

Before the syringe cover 204 is mounted to the pharmaceutical syringemounting component 1, the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is set inside thesyringe cover 204 as shown in FIG. 12. Next, in a state in which the cap203 has been detached from the main case 202, the syringe cover 204 inwhich the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is housed is mounted to thepharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1 from the distal end side.

The cap 203 is then mounted to the main case 202, and then the cover 38of the opening 37 provided on the distal end side of the main case 202is slid as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 to open up the opening 37.

As shown in FIG. 9, in this state, the injection needle 6 is mountedalong with the cap 39 to a needle mounting component 204 b (see FIG. 10)on the distal end side of the syringe cover 204, resulting in a state inwhich the injection needle 6 is mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5.

As shown in FIG. 12, the piston 11 is provided just as in FIG. 2 inEmbodiment 1, to the rear of the pharmaceutical syringe 5 inside themain case 202. The piston 11 is driven by the piston drive motor 12,which pushes the gasket 13 forward (distal end side) within thepharmaceutical syringe 5. This movement of the gasket 13 pushes thepharmaceutical out of the pharmaceutical syringe 5 through the injectionneedle 6.

Again in Embodiment 2, as shown in FIG. 12, just as in FIG. 2 inEmbodiment 1, the moving member 14 is provided to house the piston 11,the piston drive motor 12, and the rear outer periphery of the syringecover 204. This moving member 14 is configured so that it is drivenforward and backward by the needle insertion and withdrawal drive motor15.

In other words, again in this embodiment, just as in Embodiment 1, whenthe needle insertion and withdrawal drive motor 15 is first driven fromthe state in FIG. 12, the injection needle 6 moves forward together withthe moving member 14. As a result, the injection needle 6 protrudesforward from the opening 37 of the main case 202, and this pierces theskin.

When the piston drive motor 12 is then driven, the gasket 13 is movedforward by the piston 11. As a result, the pharmaceutical in thepharmaceutical syringe 5 is injected into the human body through theinjection needle 6.

In Embodiment 2, since the cap 3 of Embodiment 1 is not provided, theprotective cap 39 is mounted as discussed above to the injection needle6 (see FIG. 10). Removing the protective cap 39 from the injectionneedle 6 results in a state in which the injection needle 6 is exposedas shown in FIG. 11.

Therefore, the protective cap 39 is removed before the injection needle6 is moved forward and pierces the skin, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.Then, the injection needle 6 is moved forward in the state in FIG. 11and pierces the skin, and the pharmaceutical in the pharmaceuticalsyringe 5 is injected into the body from the injection needle 6.

In order to perform the above operation, the above-mentioned powerswitch 16, the pharmaceutical injection switch 17, the air vent switch18, and the display component 19 are provided to the outer peripheralface of the main case 202 as discussed above. The charging terminal 20is provided just as in Embodiment 1 to the outer peripheral face of themain case 202 of the pharmaceutical injection device 102 in Embodiment2. This charging terminal 20 is the same as the one in FIG. 2, and isprovided to the lower face side of the main case 202, so it is notdepicted in FIGS. 8 to 11, but is depicted in FIG. 12.

1-3. Control Configuration of Pharmaceutical Injection Device 102

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the control configuration of thepharmaceutical injection device 102 in Embodiment 2.

The piston drive motor 12, the needle insertion and withdrawal drivemotor 15, the power switch 16, the pharmaceutical injection switch 17,the air vent switch 18, the display component 19, and the chargingterminal 20 are connected to the controller 21 as shown in FIG. 13.

Of these, the piston drive motor 12 is connected to the controller 21via the encoder 22.

The piston drive motor 12 and the needle insertion and withdrawal drivemotor 15 are connected to the controller 21 via the motor drive circuit23.

The motor drive circuit 23 is connected to the controller 21 via thecurrent sensing circuit 24.

The charging terminal 20 is connected to the rechargeable battery 26 viathe charging circuit 25.

The charging terminal 20 is also connected to the controller 21 via thecharging detector 27.

Similarly, the charging circuit 25 is also connected to the controller21.

The memory 28, which stores control programs and the like, is connectedto the controller 21.

Also, instead of the cap detector switch 10 used in Embodiment 1, thecontroller 21 is connected to a slide detector 40 for whether the cover38 is open or closed.

1-4. Slide Detector 40

FIG. 14 is a cross section of the configuration near of the slidedetector 40. As shown in FIG. 14, the slide detector 40 comprises amagnet 41, a yoke 42, and a magnetic sensor 43. The magnet 41 isprovided on the back face 38 a of the cover 38, and is magnetized in adirection substantially perpendicular to the slide direction of thecover 38 (this could also be said to be a direction substantiallyperpendicular to the back face 38 a).

The yoke 42 is made of a soft magnetic material such as silicon steel orelectromagnetic soft iron. The term “soft magnetic material” means amagnetic material whose magnetic permeability is high and whosecoercivity is low. The yoke 42 is disposed such that one end 42 a on thedistal end side is opposite the magnet 41 in a state in which the cover38 is closed (a state in which the opening 37 is covered by the cover38), and the other end 42 b on the rear end side is opposite themagnetic sensor 43. With this arrangement, the yoke 42 guides themagnetic flux generated by the magnet 41 when cover 38 is closed to themagnetic sensor 43, as indicated by the arrow P in the drawings.

The magnetic sensor 43 is connected to the controller 21 shown in FIG.13, and outputs a signal to the controller 21 when a magnetic field isdetected.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, in the closed state of the cover 38,since one end of the yoke 42 is opposite the magnet 41, most of themagnetic flux from the magnet 41 flows to the magnetic sensor 43 that isdisposed opposite the other end of the yoke 42, and as a result, themagnetic sensor 43 can detect that the cover 38 is closed.

The controller 21 detects that the output of the magnetic sensor 43 isin its on state, and determines that the cap 203 has been mounted to themain case 202, and that the cover 38 is closed.

1-5. Storage Case

The pharmaceutical injection device 102 in Embodiment 2 configured asabove is similar to Embodiment 1 in that it is stored in the storagecase 29 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the rechargeable battery 26 ischarged during this storage. The storage case in Embodiment 2 differsonly in the shape of the mounting recess 30, but its function is thesame as that in Embodiment 1, so it will be described by referring tothe storage case 29 of FIGS. 4 and 5.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the storage case 29 has the lid32 and the placement component 53 in which is formed the mounting recess30 in which the main case 202 of the pharmaceutical injection device 102is mounted. The mounting recess 30 is formed to conform to the exteriorshape of the pharmaceutical injection device 102 in a state in which thecap 203 has been mounted to the main case 202. When the main case 202 towhich the cap 203 has been mounted is mounted in the mounting recess 30,just as in FIG. 6, the power supply terminal 31 provided to the mountingrecess 30 comes into contact with the charging terminal 20 of the maincase 202, and the rechargeable battery 26 is charged.

Again in Embodiment 2, in order to put the pharmaceutical injectiondevice 102 in the storage case 29 for charging, the lid 32 in the statein FIG. 5 is configured to be closed and mate with the placementcomponent 53 so as to cover the mounting recess 30 and thepharmaceutical injection device 102.

Also, the power supply terminal 31 is connected to the power input 35via the power supply circuit 33 and the input voltage protection circuit34, just as in FIG. 3. This power input 35 has a plug or the like thatallows it to be plugged into an outlet, etc.

2. Operation

FIGS. 15A and 15B are flowcharts of the operation of the pharmaceuticalinjection device 102 in Embodiment 2.

In the above configuration, when injecting the pharmaceutical, thepharmaceutical injection device 102 is as shown in FIG. 9, in which thesyringe cover 204 that houses the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is mounted tothe pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1 of the main case 202,and the injection needle 6 covered by the protective cap 39 is mountedto the syringe cover 204.

Next, the protective cap 39 is pulled off as shown in FIG. 11 to exposethe injection needle 6.

When the injection needle 6 covered by the protective cap 39 is mountedto the syringe cover 204, or when the protective cap 39 is pulled off toexpose the injection needle 6, the cover 38 is slid to open up theopening 37, with the mounting and removal being performed through thisopening 37.

In this state, first the power switch 16 (labeled as power supply SW inFIGS. 15A and 15B) pushed down and put in its on state.

The controller 21 then senses the voltage of the rechargeable battery 26via the charging circuit 25 (S201 in FIG. 15A).

Then, if the voltage of the rechargeable battery 26 is low, thecontroller 21 emits an alarm sound from the sounder 36 connected to thecontroller 21 as shown in FIG. 13 (S202 in FIG. 15A), and then a messageprompting the user to charge the battery is displayed on the displaycomponent 19 (S203 of FIG. 15A). More specifically, the displaycomponent 19 displays a message of “Low battery; charge.” After themessage is displayed, the power switch 16 is pressed by the user, thepower supply is switched off, and control is ended.

When the voltage of the rechargeable battery 26 is at the proper level,first the slide detector 40 indirectly detects whether or not theinjection needle 6 has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5(S204 in FIG. 15A).

That is, in Embodiment 1 the fact that the injection needle 6 had beenmounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is directly detected by theneedle detector switch 8, but in Embodiment 2 whether or not theinjection needle 6 has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 isdetected indirectly by slide detector 40.

More precisely, in a state in which the cover 38 has been slid to openup the opening 37, the injection needle 6 is in a state of being mountedto the pharmaceutical syringe 5, so at this point the controller 21indirectly determines that the injection needle 6 has been mounted tothe pharmaceutical syringe 5.

Also, even when the moving member 14 is positioned all the way to therear end side, the injection needle 6 is long enough to protrude beyondthe opening 37. Therefore, in a state in which the injection needle 6has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5, the cover 38 cannot beslid to close off the opening 37 because the injection needle 6 is inthe way.

For this reason, in Embodiment 2, whether or not the injection needle 6has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is detected indirectlyby the slide detector 40 (S204 in FIG. 15A).

It is determined that the injection needle 6 has been mounted, thecontroller 21 emits an alarm sound from the sounder 36 (S205 in FIG.15A), then causes the display component 19 to display a messageprompting the user to remove the injection needle 6 (S206 in FIG. 15A).More specifically, the controller 21 causes the display component 19 todisplay a direct indication of “Close cover.” This display consequently(indirectly) instructs the user to remove the injection needle 6.

In S204 in FIG. 15A, if the cover 38 is determined to be closed, thecontroller 21 causes the display component 19 to display a menu (S207 inFIG. 15A). The control also proceeds to S207 if it is detected that thecover 38 is closed (S237) after the display in S206. More specifically,in S207, the display shown in FIG. 16a is given. In FIG. 16 a,

“Inject,” “Check history,” and “Settings” are displayed as menus. An“Enter” key is displayed under these, and up and down arrow keys aredisplayed on the left and right of the display of the “Enter” key. Theselector switches 54 a and 54 b are disposed under the up and down arrowkeys, “Inject,” “Check history,” and “Settings” can be selected bypressing these selector switches 54 a and 54 b, and this action can beentered by pressing the pharmaceutical injection switch 17 disposedunder the “Enter” key.

Here, when the inject is selected, the controller 21 checks the open orclosed state of the cover 38 again (S208 in FIG. 15A).

More specifically, if the cover 38 is not closed, the controller 21emits an alarm sound from the sounder 36 (S209 in FIG. 15A), thendisplays on the display component 19 a message prompting the user toremove the injection needle 6 (S210 in FIG. 15A). The controller 21gives an indirect display of “Close cover” on the display component 19.This display indirectly tells the user to remove the injection needle 6.

In S208 of FIG. 15A, if the cover 38 is determined to be closed, thecontroller 21 displays “Shake” on the display component 19 (S211 in FIG.15A). The control also proceeds to S211 when it is detected that thecover 38 is closed after the display in S210.

That is, better uniformity can be attained by stirring thepharmaceutical in the pharmaceutical syringe 5 mounted in the main case202.

Then, after 10 seconds has elapsed, the controller 21 displays “Mixed?”on the display component 19. Here, specifically, in S212, the displayshown in FIG. 16b is given. In FIG. 16b , along with the display of“Mixed?,” menus of “OK” and “Redo” are displayed. Also, an

“Enter” key is displayed below these displays, and up and down arrowkeys are displayed on the left and right of the display of the “Enter”key. Either “OK” or “Redo” can be selected by using the pharmaceuticalinjection switch 17 and the selector switches 54 a and 54 b just asdiscussed above. In addition, a check window 55 (see FIG. 14), forexample, is provided so that the user can check the state in thepharmaceutical syringe 5, and the user can look through the check window55 to determine whether or not the pharmaceutical is mixed.

In S212, when the “OK” key displayed simultaneously with the display of“Mixed?” is operated pressed, the controller 21 causes the displaycomponent 19 to give a display prompting the user to vent the air (S227in FIG. 15B). On the other hand, if “Redo” is selected, the controlreturns to S208, and “Shake” is displayed again.

At this point, if the air vent switch 18 shown in FIG. 11 is pressed,the controller 21 uses the slide detector 40 to detect whether or notthe cover 38 is open (S213 in FIG. 15B).

That is, to vent the air, it is important that the injection needle 6 ismounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5, and the mounting of theinjection needle 6 to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is detectedindirectly from whether the cover 38 is open or closed. Therefore, ifthe cover 38 is closed, the controller 21 emits an alarm sound from thesounder 36 (S214 in FIG. 15B), then displays on the display component 19a message prompting the user to mount the injection needle 6 (S215 inFIG. 15B). The display at this point is a direct display of “Attachneedle,” but the display component 19 may instead display an image ofthe injection needle 6 as an indirect display. After the message of“Attach needle” is displayed in S215, if the slide detector 40 hasdetected that the cover 38 is open (S239), control returns to S227, anda message of “Vent air” is displayed again.

Then, if the mounting of the injection needle 6 to the pharmaceuticalsyringe 5 is indirectly detected in S213 in FIG. 15B from the fact thatthe cover 38 has been opened, the controller 21 causes the displaycomponent 19 to display “Air venting in progress” (S216 in FIG. 15B).Following this display, the needle insertion and withdrawal drive motor15 is then driven. Next, the piston drive motor 12 is driven to executethe air venting.

Then, when the air venting is complete, the needle insertion andwithdrawal drive motor 15 is reversed, and the injection needle 6returns to the state in FIG. 11 (S217 in FIG. 15B).

In Embodiment 2, the needle was inserted and withdrawn using the needleinsertion and withdrawal drive motor 15, but even when the needle hasbeen removed, the injection needle 6 protrudes beyond the opening 37 ofthe main case 202, as shown in FIG. 10.

If the injection needle 6 is thus long enough to protrude from theopening 37, the piercing operation can be performed manually by thepatient, a healthcare worker, or the like by holding the main case 202,so if the main case 202 is made more compact, the needle insertion andwithdrawal drive motor 15 can be eliminated.

In any case, in Embodiment 2, since the injection needle 6 protrudesfrom the opening 37 of the main case 202 in a state in which theinjection needle 6 has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 andthe cover can not be closed, the slide detector 40 can detected that thecover 38 is closed, or that the cover 38 is open. Thus, even when theneedle has been withdrawn, the injection needle 6 protrudes outwardbeyond the opening 37, so when it is detected that the cover 38 isclosed, the injection needle 6 can be determined not to have beenmounted. That is, the mounting state of the injection needle 6 can beindirectly detected from whether the cover 38 is open or closed.

When this air venting is complete, the controller 21 causes the displaycomponent 19 to display “Air vented?” (S218 in FIG. 15B). Morespecifically, in S218, the display shown in FIG. 16c is given. In FIG.16c , menus of “OK” and “Redo” are displayed along with the display ofthe “Air vented?” Also, an “Enter” key is displayed below thesedisplays, and up and down arrow keys are displayed on the left and rightof the display of the “Enter” key. Either “OK” or “Redo” can be selectedby using the pharmaceutical injection switch 17 and the selectorswitches 54 a and 54 b just as discussed above. In addition, the usercan visually confirm that pharmaceutical is coming out of the distal endof the injection needle 6, and can thereby determine whether or not theair has been vented.

At this point, when the OK key displayed on the display component 19 ispressed, the controller 21 causes the display component 19 to display“Ready to inject” (S219 in FIG. 15B). On the other hand, if the “Redo”key is pressed, control returns to S227 and the air venting operation isperformed again.

When “Ready to inject” is displayed in S219, if the user places theopening 37 of the main case 202 against the pharmaceuticaladministration site (the skin), the injection needle 6 pierces the skin.The pharmaceutical injection switch 17 is then operated by the user.

Then, the controller 21 again checks whether the cover 38 is open orclosed (S220 in FIG. 15B).

If the cover 38 is closed, the controller 21 issues an alarm sound fromthe sounder 36 (S214 in FIG. 15B), then causes the display component 19to display a message prompting the user to mount the injection needle 6(S215 in FIG. 15B).

In other words, it can be concluded that the injection needle 6 has notbeen mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 from the fact that thecover 38 is closed, even though the pharmaceutical injection switch 17has been operated in an attempt to perform pharmaceutical injection, soan alarm sound is emitted from the sounder 36 (S214 in FIG. 15B), andthen a message prompting the user to mount the injection needle 6 isdisplayed on the display component 19 (S215 in FIG. 15B). If the slidedetector 40 has detected that the cover 38 was opened after a message to“Attach needle” was displayed in S215 (S239), control returns to S227,and a message to “Vent air” is displayed again.

In contrast, if the cover 38 is opened in S220 in FIG. 15B, this is astate in which it is indirectly determined that the injection needle 6has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5, so at this point,first the needle insertion and withdrawal drive motor 15 is operated,resulting in a state in which the injection needle 6 further pierces thepharmaceutical administration site through the opening 37 in the maincase 202. Next, the piston drive motor 12 causes the piston 11 to pushthe gasket 13, the result of which is that the pharmaceutical in thepharmaceutical syringe 5 is injected into the body through the injectionneedle 6 (S221 in FIG. 15B).

Once this pharmaceutical injection is complete, the piston drive motor12 and the needle insertion and withdrawal drive motor 15 are reversed.As a result, the injection needle 6 goes back toward the inside of themain case 202, and the piston 11 is also withdrawn from thepharmaceutical syringe 5.

Then, the controller 21 is informs the user that the pharmaceuticalinjection is complete by displaying “Injection finished” on the displaycomponent 19 (S222 in FIG. 15B).

When the power switch 16 is turned off in this state, the controller 21confirms that the cover 38 is closed (S223 in FIG. 15B).

That is, the purpose of this step S223 is to determine whether or notthe cover 38 has been closed after completion of the injection of thepharmaceutical. More specifically, when the pharmaceutical injection iscomplete, the user removes the injection needle 6 from thepharmaceutical syringe 5 and closes the cover 38 to store thepharmaceutical syringe 5 inside the main case 202.

Therefore, in S223, it can be determined that the injection needle 6 isstill attached to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 by the cover 38 being notclosed, so at this point an alarm sound is emitted from the sounder 36(S224 in FIG. 15B). The controller 21 then causes the display component19 to display the message “Close cover” (S225 in FIG. 15B). Thus, theuser is indirectly prompted to remove the injection needle 6 bydisplaying “Close cover.”

Also, in S223, if the slide detector 40 has detected that the cover 38is closed, the controller 21 determines that the injection needle 6 hasbeen properly removed from the pharmaceutical syringe 5, and thereforecauses the display component 19 to display the message “See you” to endthe operation (S226 in FIG. 15B).

In S225, if the slide detector 40 detects that the cover 38 is closedafter displaying the message “Close cover” (S240), control proceeds toS226 and the message of “See you” is displayed.

Also, if it is not detected that the cover 38 is closed even after 10minutes have elapsed since the display in S225, the power shut off andcontrol is ended in order to reduce power consumption (S241).

3. Key Features

(3-1)

The pharmaceutical injection device 102 in Embodiment 2 comprises themain case 202, the piston 11, the piston drive motor 12 (an example of adriver), the power switch 16, the display component 19, and thecontroller 21. The main case 202 has the pharmaceutical syringe mountingcomponent 1 to which the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is mounted. The piston11 is provided movably with respect to the pharmaceutical syringe 5mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1. The pistondrive motor 12 drives the piston 11. The power switch 16 switches thepower on and off. The display component 19 is provided to the main case202. The slide detector 40 (an example of a needle detector) indirectlydetects the mounting state of the injection needle 6. When the slidedetector 40 indirectly detects that the injection needle 6 has beenmounted in the switching off of the power switch 16, a first control isexecuted to cause the display component 19 to display a message thatindirectly prompts the user to remove the injection needle 6 (S223,S225). Thus, when the mounting state of the injection needle 6 isindirectly checked in the switching off of the power switch 16 and it isdetected that the injection needle 6 has been mounted, a messageprompting the user to remove the injection needle 6 is displayed.

Consequently, the user can be prompted to remove the injection needle 6and put away the pharmaceutical injection device 102 in the storage case29, so the user will be less likely to forget to remove the injectionneedle 6 when the device is put away.

Therefore, the user will also be less likely to reuse an injectionneedle 6 that has already been used.

(3-2)

The pharmaceutical injection device 102 in Embodiment 2 furthercomprises the cap 203. The cap 203 is disposed on the distal end side ofthe pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 1, and is detachablyattached to the main case 202. The cap 203 has the opening 37 formedopposite the distal end of the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component1, and the cover 38 for opening and closing the opening 37. Theinjection needle 6 protrudes from the opening 37 in its mounted state.The slide detector 40 (an example of a needle detector) indirectlydetects the mounting state of the injection needle 6 by detectingwhether the cover 38 is open or closed.

In a state in which the injection needle 6 is mounted, the cover 38cannot be closed since the injection needle 6 protrudes from the opening37. Therefore, in a state in which the cover 38 is closed, can beconcluded that the injection needle 6 has not been mounted.

Consequently, the fact that the injection needle 6 has not been mountedcan be indirectly detected by detecting whether the cover 38 is open orclosed, and the user will be less likely to forget to remove theinjection needle 6.

(3-3)

The pharmaceutical injection device 102 in Embodiment 2 is such that theslide detector 40 has the magnet 41, the yoke 42, and the magneticsensor 43. The magnet 41 is provided to the cover 38. The yoke 42 isdisposed inside the main case 202 so as to be opposite the magnet 41 ina state in which the cover 38 is closed. The magnetic sensor 43 isdisposed opposite the yoke 42.

Consequently, the when cover 38 is closed, the magnetic flux generatedby the magnet 41 is guided by the yoke 42 to the magnetic sensor 43, andthe magnetic sensor 43 detects this magnetism. This makes it possible todetect that the cover 38 is closed.

4. Other Embodiments

(A)

In Embodiment 2, in S223 and S225, control is ended after it isindirectly detected that injection needle 6 have been removed, but thirdcontrol of detecting the charging state shown in S27, S28, and S29 inEmbodiment 1 may be performed after the cover detection in S223.

In Embodiment 2, since the cover 38 is provided to the cap 203, themounting of the cap 203 is detected along with the removal of theinjection needle 6 by detecting that the cover 38 is closed. Therefore,it is not necessary to provide the second control shown in S23 and S25in Embodiment 1. In other words, the second control shown in S23 and S25in Embodiment 1 is already included in the first control shown in S223and S225 in Embodiment 2.

(B)

In Embodiment 2, in S225 the user is indirectly prompted to remove theinjection needle by displaying a message of “Close cover,” but mayinstead be directly prompted to remove the injection needle with amessage of “Remove needle.”

(C)

The message of “Close cover” may indicate the closing of the cover notonly directly, but also indirectly.

The indirect display for closing the cover 38 may also be a display ofan image of closing the cover on the display component 19.

Embodiment 3

Next, the pharmaceutical injection device 103 in a third embodiment ofthe present invention will be described through reference to FIGS. 17 to23. In Embodiment 3, components that perform the same function as in theEmbodiments 1 and 2 will be numbered the same, but a 3 will be added inthe hundreds place of the number when there is a significant change inthe shape, etc.

In Embodiment 3, the needle insertion and withdrawal drive motor 15 usedin Embodiments 1 and 2 is not provided, and needle insertion andwithdrawal are performed by the patient, a healthcare worker, etc.

In other words, with the pharmaceutical injection device 101 inEmbodiment 1, since the injection needle 6 is to the rear of the cap 3,the injection needle 6 is moved forward by the needle insertion andwithdrawal drive motor 15 until it protrudes from the cap 3 and piercesthe skin. After this, the injection needle 6 is moved backward by theneedle insertion and withdrawal drive motor 15 to withdraw the needle.

Also, in Embodiment 2, as can be understood from FIG. 11, in a state inwhich the injection needle 6 is mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5,the distal end of the injection needle 6 protrudes slightly in front ofthe main case 202 through the opening 37. Accordingly, when piercing theskin, the patient, healthcare worker, or the like lightly places theinjection needle 6 on the injection site, and then the injection needle6 is moved forward by the needle insertion and withdrawal drive motor15, and the needle is inserted to the proper depth. Then, after thepharmaceutical injection, the injection needle 6 is retracted by needleinsertion and withdrawal drive motor 15, and finally the injectionneedle 6 is withdrawn by the patient, healthcare worker, etc.

In Embodiment 3, the distance by which the injection needle 6 protrudesfrom the opening 37 is longer than in Embodiment 2.

That is, the user holds the main case 202 and positions the injectionneedle 6 opposite the injection site, and then pushes until the sitehits the cover 38, whereupon the injection needle 6 is inserted to theproper depth into the body.

Specifically, the pharmaceutical injection device 103 in Embodiment 3 isconfigured such that the insertion and withdrawal of the injectionneedle 6 are performed without using the needle insertion and withdrawaldrive motor 15, and eliminating the needle insertion and withdrawaldrive motor 15 allows the main case 202 to be made more compact.

The configuration of Embodiment 3 will now be described throughreference to FIGS. 17 to 23. FIG. 17 is an oblique view of thepharmaceutical injection device 103 in Embodiment 3. FIG. 18 shows theinternal configuration of the pharmaceutical injection device 103 shownin FIG. 17. FIG. 19 shows the state when the cover 38 of thepharmaceutical injection device 103 shown in FIG. 18 has been opened up.FIG. 20 shows the state when the cap 203 of the pharmaceutical injectiondevice 103 shown in FIG. 18 has been removed. FIG. 21 shows the statewhen the injection needle 6 has been mounted to the pharmaceuticalinjection device 103 shown in FIG. 19.

1. Configuration 1-1. Configuration of Pharmaceutical Injection Device103

As shown in FIG. 17, the pharmaceutical injection device 103 inEmbodiment 3 comprises a main case 202 that is substantially box-shapedand has a pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 301 on the innerdistal end side. The configuration of the pharmaceutical injectiondevice 103 in Embodiment 3 is substantially the same as in Embodiment 2,as shown in FIGS. 17 and 8.

As shown in FIGS. 17 and 20, a cap 203 is detachably provided to thisdistal end side of the main case 202. An opening 37 is formed as shownin FIG. 18 in the face 203 a on the distal end side of the cap 203 shownin FIG. 17 (see to FIG. 9 in Embodiment 2). A cover 38 that is capableof sliding parallel to the face 203 a is provided as shown in FIG. 17 inorder to open and close this opening 37. Thus, the cover 38 is providedto the cap 203 that is detachably mounted to the main case 202.

Also, if we let the side on which the cap 203 is disposed be the frontside or the distal end side of the pharmaceutical injection device 102,and the opposite side thereof be the rear end side, the displaycomponent 19 is provided toward the rear end side of the front face 202a of the main case 202. The pharmaceutical injection switch 17 isdisposed on the distal end side of the display component 19 on the frontface 202 a, and selector switches 54 a and 54 b are provided on bothsides of the pharmaceutical injection switch 17 in the width direction.The power switch 16 is disposed at the end of the front face 202 a onthe rear end side.

In FIG. 17, the air vent switch 18 is provided to an end face 202 b thatis on the left side when viewed with the front face 202 a at the front.

1-2. Internal Configuration of Pharmaceutical Injection Device 103

As shown in FIG. 18, with the pharmaceutical injection device 103 inEmbodiment 3, the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 301 isformed so that the rear end side opens up from the main case 202, usinga fulcrum 301 a formed on the outside and the distal end side as areference. In FIG. 18, the state in which the pharmaceutical syringemounting component 301 is opened up is indicated by a two-dot chainline.

As shown in FIG. 18, the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is mounted to thepharmaceutical syringe mounting component 301 by opening up thepharmaceutical syringe mounting component 301 and inserting thepharmaceutical syringe 5 from below in FIG. 18 (see arrow B).

Also, the cover 38 of the opening 37 provided on the distal end side ofthe main case 202 is slid open as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, and in thisstate, as shown in FIG. 21, the injection needle 6 is mounted on thedistal end side of the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 301,resulting in a state in which the injection needle 6 is mounted to thepharmaceutical syringe 5. As shown in FIG. 20, the cap 203 may beremoved from the main case 202, the attachment component 50 of theinjection needle 6 attached in this state to the needle mountingcomponent 301 b provided at the distal end of the pharmaceutical syringemounting component 301, and the cap 203 attached to the main case 202 ina state in which the opening 37 is opened up.

A latched component 301 c is formed at the rear end side on the insideof the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component 301, and when thepharmaceutical syringe mounting component 301 is closed, this is latchedby the latching component 56 provided inside the main case 202. Thislatching component 56 is biased toward the distal end side by a spring57, and this biasing force maintains the latched state of the latchingcomponent 56 and the latched component 301 c.

Also, the piston 11 is provided to the rear of the pharmaceuticalsyringe 5 mounted in the body casing 202, just as in FIG. 2 inEmbodiment 1. The piston 11 is linked to the piston drive motor 12 via agear 58 disposed on the rear side of the piston 11, and the piston 11 isdriven by the piston drive motor 12 toward the distal end side or therear end side. This movement of the piston 11 to the distal end sidepushes the gasket 13 (see FIG. 21) forward in the pharmaceutical syringe5, and this pushes the pharmaceutical out of the pharmaceutical syringe5 through the injection needle 6.

Specifically, when the piston drive motor 12 is driven, the piston 11moves the gasket 13 forward, and as a result the pharmaceutical in thepharmaceutical syringe 5 is injected through the injection needle 6 intothe body.

In Embodiment 3, since the cap 3 of Embodiment 1 is not provided, theprotective cap 39 is mounted just as in Embodiment 2 (see FIG. 10).Removing the protective cap 39 from the injection needle 6 results in astate in which the injection needle 6 is exposed as shown in FIG. 21.

Therefore, the protective cap 39 is removed before the injection needle6 pierces the skin, as shown in FIG. 21. Then, the injection needle 6pierces the skin in the state in FIG. 21, and the pharmaceutical in thepharmaceutical syringe 5 is injected into the body from the injectionneedle 6.

In order to perform the above operation, the above-mentioned powerswitch 16, the pharmaceutical injection switch 17, the air vent switch18, and the display component 19 are provided to the outer peripheralface of the main case 202 as discussed above. The charging terminal 20is provided just as in Embodiment 1 to the outer peripheral face of themain case 202 of the pharmaceutical injection device 103 in Embodiment3. This charging terminal 20 is the same as the one in FIG. 2, and isprovided to the lower face side of the main case 202, so it is notdepicted in FIGS. 17 to 21, but is depicted in FIG. 22.

1-3. Control Configuration of Pharmaceutical Injection Device 103

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of the control configuration of thepharmaceutical injection device 103 in Embodiment 3.

The needle detector 8, the piston drive motor 12, the power switch 16,the pharmaceutical injection switch 17, the air vent switch 18, thedisplay component 19, and the charging terminal 20 are connected to thecontroller 21 as shown in FIG. 22.

Of these, the piston drive motor 12 is connected to the controller 21via the encoder 22.

The piston drive motor 12 is connected to the controller 21 via themotor drive circuit 23.

The motor drive circuit 23 is connected to the controller 21 via thecurrent sensing circuit 24.

The charging terminal 20 is connected to the rechargeable battery 26 viathe charging circuit 25.

The charging terminal 20 is connected to the controller 21 via thecharging detector 27.

Similarly, the charging circuit 25 is also connected to the controller21.

The memory 28, which stores control programs and the like, is connectedto the controller 21.

Also, instead of the cap detector switch 10 used in Embodiment 1, thecontroller 21 is connected to a slide detector 40 for whether the cover38 is open or closed.

1-4. Slide Detector 40

The slide detector 40 in Embodiment 3 has a configuration same as thatin Embodiment 2, and will be described through reference to FIG. 14 inEmbodiment 3, too.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 18, the slide detector 40 comprises a magnet41, a yoke 42, and a magnetic sensor 43. The magnet 41 is provided onthe back face 38 a of the cover 38, and is magnetized in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the slide direction of the cover 38 (theback face 38 a).

The yoke 42 is made of a soft magnetic material such as silicon steel orelectromagnetic soft iron. The term “soft magnetic material” means amagnetic material whose magnetic permeability is high and whosecoercivity is low. The yoke 42 is disposed such that one end 42 a on thedistal end side is opposite the magnet 41 in a state in which the cover38 is closed (a state in which the opening 37 is covered by the cover38), and the other end 42 b on the rear end side is opposite themagnetic sensor 43. With this arrangement, the yoke 42 guides themagnetic flux generated by the magnet 41 when cover 38 is closed to themagnetic sensor 43, as indicated by the arrow P in the drawings.

The magnetic sensor 43 is connected to the controller 21 shown in FIG.22, and outputs a signal to the controller 21 when a magnetic field isdetected.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, in the closed state of the cover 38,since one end of the yoke 42 is opposite the magnet 41, most of themagnetic flux from the magnet 41 flows to the magnetic sensor 43 that isdisposed opposite the other end of the yoke 42, and as a result, themagnetic sensor 43 can detect that the cover 38 is closed.

The controller 21 detects that the output of the magnetic sensor 43 isin its on state, and determines that the cap 203 has been mounted to themain case 202, and that the cover 38 is closed.

1-5. Storage Case

The pharmaceutical injection device 103 in Embodiment 3 configured asabove is similar to Embodiment 1 in that it is stored in the storagecase 29 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the rechargeable battery 26 ischarged during this storage. The storage case in Embodiment 3 differsonly in the shape of the mounting recess 30, but its function is thesame as that in Embodiment 1, so it will be described by referring tothe storage case 29 of FIGS. 4 and 5.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the storage case 29 has the lid32 and the placement component 53 in which is formed the mounting recess30 in which the main case 202 of the pharmaceutical injection device 103is mounted. The mounting recess 30 is formed to conform to the exteriorshape of the pharmaceutical injection device 103 in a state in which thecap 203 has been mounted to the main case 202. When the main case 202 towhich the cap 203 has been mounted is mounted in the mounting recess 30,just as in FIG. 6, the power supply terminal 31 provided to the mountingrecess 30 comes into contact with the charging terminal 20 of the maincase 202, and the rechargeable battery 26 is charged.

Again in Embodiment 3, in order to put the pharmaceutical injectiondevice 103 in the storage case 29 for charging, the lid 32 in the statein FIG. 5 is configured to be closed and mate with the placementcomponent 53 so as to cover the mounting recess 30 and thepharmaceutical injection device 103.

Also, the power supply terminal 31 is connected to the power input 35via the power supply circuit 33 and the input voltage protection circuit34, just as in FIG. 3. This power input 35 has a plug or the like thatallows it to be plugged into an outlet, etc.

2. Operation

FIGS. 23A and 23B are flowcharts illustrating the operation of thepharmaceutical injection device 103 in Embodiment 3.

In the above configuration, when the pharmaceutical is injected, thepharmaceutical injection device 103 is such that the pharmaceuticalsyringe mounting component 301 of the main case 202 is opened as shownin FIG. 18, and the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is mounted. Thepharmaceutical syringe mounting component 301 is then closed. Afterthis, the injection needle 6 covered by the protective cap 39 is mountedto the needle mounting component 301 b of the pharmaceutical syringemounting component 301.

Next, the protective cap 39 is pulled off as shown in FIG. 21 to exposethe injection needle 6.

When the injection needle 6 covered by the protective cap 39 is mountedto the needle mounting component 301 b of the pharmaceutical syringemounting component 301, or when the protective cap 39 is pulled off toexpose the injection needle 6, the cover 38 is slid to open up theopening 37. The mounting of the injection needle 6 may be performedthrough the opening 37 in a state in which the cap 203 has beenattached, or may be performed in a state in which the cap 203 has beenremoved from the main case 202. If the injection needle 6 is mountedafter the cap 203 has been detached, then the cap 203 is mounted to themain case 202 after this.

In this state, first the power switch 16 (labeled as power supply SW inFIGS. 23A and 23B) pushed down and put in its on state.

The controller 21 then senses the voltage of the rechargeable battery 26via the charging circuit 25 (S201 in FIG. 23A).

Then, if the voltage of the rechargeable battery 26 is low, thecontroller 21 emits an alarm sound from the sounder 36 connected to thecontroller 21 as shown in FIG. 22 (S202 in FIG. 23A), and then a messageprompting the user to charge the battery is displayed on the displaycomponent 19 (S203 of FIG. 23A).

More specifically, the display component 19 displays a message of “Lowbattery; charge.” After the message is displayed, the power switch 16 ispressed by the user, the power supply is switched off, and control isended.

When the voltage of the rechargeable battery 26 is at the proper level,first the slide detector 40 indirectly detects whether or not theinjection needle 6 has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5(S204 in FIG. 23A).

That is, in Embodiment 1 the fact that the injection needle 6 has beenmounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is directly detected by theneedle detector switch 8, but in Embodiment 3 whether or not theinjection needle 6 has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 isdetected indirectly by slide detector 40.

More precisely, in a state in which the cover 38 has been slid to openup the opening 37, the injection needle 6 is in a state of being mountedto the pharmaceutical syringe 5, so at this point the controller 21indirectly determines that the injection needle 6 has been mounted tothe pharmaceutical syringe 5.

The injection needle 6 is long enough to protrude beyond the opening 37.Therefore, in a state in which the injection needle 6 has been mountedto the pharmaceutical syringe 5, the cover 38 cannot be slid to closeoff the opening 37 because the injection needle 6 is in the way.

For this reason, in Embodiment 3, whether or not the injection needle 6has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is detected indirectlyby the slide detector 40 (S204 in FIG. 23A).

If it is determined that the injection needle 6 has been mounted, thecontroller 21 emits an alarm sound from the sounder 36 (S205 in FIG.23A), then causes the display component 19 to display a messageprompting the user to remove the injection needle 6 (S206 in FIG. 23A).More specifically, the controller 21 causes the display component 19 todisplay a direct indication of “Close cover.” This display consequently(indirectly) instructs the user to remove the injection needle 6.

In S204 in FIG. 23A, if the cover 38 is determined to be closed, thecontroller 21 causes the display component 19 to display a menu (S207 inFIG. 23A). The control also proceeds to S207 if it is detected that thecover 38 is closed (S237) after the display in S206.

More specifically, in S207, the display shown in FIG. 16a is given. InFIG. 16a , “Inject,” “Check history,” and “Settings” are displayed asmenus. An “Enter” key is displayed under these, and up and down arrowkeys are displayed on the left and right of the display of the “Enter”key. The selector switches 54 a and 54 b are disposed under the up anddown arrow keys, “Inject,” “Check history,” and “Settings” can beselected by pressing these selector switches 54 a and 54 b, and thisaction can be entered by pressing the pharmaceutical injection switch 17disposed under the “Enter” key.

Here, when the inject is selected, the controller 21 checks the open orclosed state of the cover 38 again (S208 in FIG. 23A).

More specifically, if the cover 38 is not closed, the controller 21emits an alarm sound from the sounder 36 (S209 in FIG. 23A), thendisplays on the display component 19 a message prompting the user toremove the injection needle 6 (S210 in FIG. 23A). The controller 21gives an indirect display of “Close cover” on the display component 19.This display indirectly tells the user to remove the injection needle 6.

In S208 of FIG. 23A, if the cover 38 is determined to be closed, thecontroller 21 displays “Shake” on the display component 19 (S211 in FIG.23A). The control also proceeds to S211 when it is detected that thecover 38 is closed after the display in S210.

That is, better uniformity can be attained by stirring thepharmaceutical in the pharmaceutical syringe 5 mounted in the main case202.

Then, after 10 seconds has elapsed, the controller 21 displays “Mixed?”on the display component 19. Here, specifically, in S212, the displayshown in FIG. 16b is given. In FIG. 16b , along with the display of“Mixed?,” menus of “OK” and “Redo” are displayed. Also, an “Enter” keyis displayed below these displays, and up and down arrow keys aredisplayed on the left and right of the display of the “Enter” key.Either “OK” or “Redo” can be selected by using the pharmaceuticalinjection switch 17 and the selector switches 54 a and 54 b just asdiscussed above. In addition, a check window 55 (see FIG. 18), forexample, is provided so that the user can check the state in thepharmaceutical syringe 5, and the user can look through the check window55 to determine whether or not the pharmaceutical is mixed.

In S212, when the “OK” key displayed simultaneously with the display of“Mixed?” is operated pressed, the controller 21 causes the displaycomponent 19 to give a display prompting the user to vent the air (S227in FIG. 23B). On the other hand, if “Redo” is selected, the controlreturns to S208, and “Shake” is displayed again.

At this point, if the air vent switch 18 shown in FIG. 17 is pressed,the controller 21 uses the slide detector 40 to detect whether or notthe cover 38 is open (S213 in FIG. 23B).

That is, to vent the air, it is important that the injection needle 6 ismounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5, and the mounting of theinjection needle 6 to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 is detectedindirectly from whether the cover 38 is open or closed.

Therefore, if the cover 38 is closed, the controller 21 emits an alarmsound from the sounder 36 (S214 in FIG. 23B), then displays on thedisplay component 19 a message prompting the user to mount the injectionneedle 6 (S215 in FIG. 23B). The display at this point is a directdisplay of “Attach needle,” but the display component 19 may insteaddisplay an image of the injection needle 6 as an indirect display. Afterthe message of “Attach needle” is displayed in S215, if the slidedetector 40 has detected that the cover 38 is open (S239), controlreturns to S227, and a message of “Vent air” is displayed again.

Then, if the mounting of the injection needle 6 to the pharmaceuticalsyringe 5 is indirectly detected in S213 in FIG. 23B from the fact thatthe cover 38 has been opened, the controller 21 causes the displaycomponent 19 to display “Air venting in progress” (S216 in FIG. 23B).After this display, the piston drive motor 12 is then driven to executeair venting. Then, when the air venting operation is complete, thepiston drive motor 12 is stopped (S317 in FIG. 13). Here, with thepharmaceutical injection device 103 in Embodiment 3, since the needleinsertion and withdrawal drive motor 15, the moving member 14, and soforth are not provided, only the piston drive motor 12 is operated, incontrast to S217 in Embodiment 2.

In Embodiment 3, as shown in FIG. 21, the injection needle 6 is in astate of protruding from the opening 37 of the main case 202.

If the distance by which the injection needle 6 protrudes from theopening 37 is thus increased, the needle insertion can be performedmanually by the patient, healthcare worker, or the like by holding themain case 202.

In any case, in Embodiment 3, since the injection needle 6 protrudesfrom the opening 37 of the main case 202 in a state in which theinjection needle 6 has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 andthe cover cannot be closed, the slide detector 40 can detected that thecover 38 is closed, or that the cover 38 is open. Thus, the injectionneedle 6 protrudes outward beyond the opening 37 in a state in which theinjection needle 6 has been mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5, sowhen it is detected that the cover 38 is closed, the injection needle 6can be determined not to have been mounted. That is, the mounting stateof the injection needle 6 can be indirectly detected from whether thecover 38 is open or closed.

When this air venting is complete, the controller 21 causes the displaycomponent 19 to display “Air vented?” (S218 in FIG. 23B). Morespecifically, in S218, the display shown in FIG. 16c is given. In FIG.16c , menus of “OK” and “Redo” are displayed along with the display ofthe “Air vented?” Also, an “Enter” key is displayed below thesedisplays, and up and down arrow keys are displayed on the left and rightof the display of the “Enter” key. Either “OK” or “Redo” can be selectedby using the pharmaceutical injection switch 17 and the selectorswitches 54 a and 54 b just as discussed above. In addition, the usercan visually confirm that pharmaceutical is coming out of the distal endof the injection needle 6, and can thereby determine whether or not theair has been vented.

At this point, when the OK key displayed on the display component 19 ispressed, the controller 21 causes the display component 19 to display“Ready to inject” (S219 in FIG. 23B). On the other hand, if the “Redo”key is pressed, control returns to S227 and the air venting operation isperformed again.

When “Ready to inject” is displayed in S219, if the user places theopening 37 of the main case 202 against the pharmaceuticaladministration site (the skin), the injection needle 6 pierces the skin.The pharmaceutical injection switch 17 is then operated by the user.

Then, the controller 21 again checks whether the cover 38 is open orclosed (S220 in FIG. 23B).

If the cover 38 is closed, the controller 21 issues an alarm sound fromthe sounder 36 (S214 in FIG. 23B), then causes the display component 19to display a message prompting the user to mount the injection needle 6(S215 in FIG. 23B).

In other words, it can be concluded that the injection needle 6 has notbeen mounted to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 from the fact that thecover 38 is closed, even though the pharmaceutical injection switch 17has been operated in an attempt to perform pharmaceutical injection, soan alarm sound is emitted from the sounder 36 (S214 in FIG. 23B), andthen a message prompting the user to mount the injection needle 6 isdisplayed on the display component 19 (S215 in FIG. 23B). If the slidedetector 40 has detected that the cover 38 was opened after a message to“Attach needle” was displayed in S215 (S239), control returns to S227,and a message to “Vent air” is displayed again.

In contrast, if the cover 38 is opened in S220 in FIG. 23B, since it isindirectly determined that the injection needle 6 is mounted to thepharmaceutical syringe 5, at this point the injection needle 6 is in astate of having pierced the pharmaceutical administration site throughthe opening 37 in the main case 202, so the piston drive motor 12 isdriven to inject the pharmaceutical inside the pharmaceutical syringe 5into the body through the injection needle 6 (S321 in FIG. 13). Here, inEmbodiment 3, unlike in Embodiment 2, the needle insertion andwithdrawal drive motor 15 is not provided, so when the pharmaceuticalinjection switch 17 is operated, the piston drive motor 12 is thendriven.

Once the injection is complete, the piston drive motor 12 is stopped,then the controller 21 causes the display component 19 to notify thenuser that the pharmaceutical injection has ended by displaying“Injection finished” (S222 in FIG. 23B).

The user, such as a patient or a healthcare worker, looks at thisdisplay of “Injection finished” and withdraws the injection needle 6from the body.

When the power switch 16 is turned off in this state, the controller 21confirms that the cover 38 is closed (S223 in FIG. 23B).

That is, the purpose of this step S223 is to determine whether or notthe cover 38 has been closed after completion of the injection of thepharmaceutical. More specifically, when the pharmaceutical injection iscomplete, the user removes the injection needle 6 from thepharmaceutical syringe 5 and closes the cover 38 to store thepharmaceutical syringe 5 inside the main case 202.

Therefore, in S223, it can be determined that the injection needle 6 isstill attached to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 by the cover 38 being notclosed, so at this point an alarm sound is emitted from the sounder 36(S224 in FIG. 23B). The controller 21 then causes the display component19 to display the message “Close cover” (S225 in FIG. 23B). Thus, theuser is indirectly prompted to remove the injection needle 6 bydisplaying “Close cover.”

Also, in S223, if the slide detector 40 has detected that the cover 38is closed, the controller 21 determines that the injection needle 6 hasbeen properly removed from the pharmaceutical syringe 5, and thereforecauses the display component 19 to display the message “See you” to endthe operation (S226 in FIG. 23B).

In S225, if the slide detector 40 detects that the cover 38 is closedafter displaying the message “Close cover” (S240), control proceeds toS226 and the message of “See you” is displayed.

Also, if it is not detected that the cover 38 is closed even after 10minutes have elapsed since the display in S225, the power shut off andcontrol is ended in order to reduce power consumption (S241).

3. Key Features

(3-1)

As shown in FIG. 18, the pharmaceutical injection device 103 inEmbodiment 3 comprises the main case 202, the piston 11, the pistondrive motor 12 (an example of a driver), the power switch 16, thedisplay component 19, and the controller 21. The main case 202 has thepharmaceutical syringe mounting component 301 to which thepharmaceutical syringe 5 is mounted. The piston 11 is provided movablywith respect to the pharmaceutical syringe 5 mounted to thepharmaceutical syringe mounting component 301. The piston drive motor 12drives the piston 11. The power switch 16 switches the power on and off.The display component 19 is provided to the main case 202. The slidedetector 40 (an example of a needle detector) indirectly detects themounting state of the injection needle 6. When the slide detector 40indirectly detects that the injection needle 6 has been mounted in theswitching off of the power switch 16, a first control is executed tocause the display component 19 to display a message that indirectlyprompts the user to remove the injection needle 6 (S223, S225).

Thus, when the mounting state of the injection needle 6 is indirectlychecked in the switching off of the power switch 16 and it is detectedthat the injection needle 6 has been mounted, a message prompting theuser to remove the injection needle 6 is displayed.

Consequently, the user can be prompted to remove the injection needle 6and put away the pharmaceutical injection device 103 in the storage case29, so the user will be less likely to forget to remove the injectionneedle 6 when the device is put away.

Therefore, the user will also be less likely to reuse an injectionneedle 6 that has already been used.

(3-2)

As shown in FIG. 18, the pharmaceutical injection device 103 inEmbodiment 3 further comprises the cap 203. The cap 203 is disposed onthe distal end side of the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component301, and is detachably attached to the main case 202. The cap 203 hasthe opening 37 formed opposite the distal end of the pharmaceuticalsyringe mounting component 301, and the cover 38 for opening and closingthe opening 37. The injection needle 6 protrudes from the opening 37 inits mounted state. The slide detector 40 (an example of a needledetector) indirectly detects the mounting state of the injection needle6 by detecting whether the cover 38 is open or closed.

In a state in which the injection needle 6 is mounted, the cover 38cannot be closed since the injection needle 6 protrudes from the opening37. Therefore, in a state in which the cover 38 is closed, can beconcluded that the injection needle 6 has not been mounted.

Consequently, the fact that the injection needle 6 has not been mountedcan be indirectly detected by detecting whether the cover 38 is open orclosed, and the user will be less likely to forget to remove theinjection needle 6.

(3-3)

As shown in FIG. 18, the pharmaceutical injection device 103 inEmbodiment 3 is such that the slide detector 40 has the magnet 41, theyoke 42, and the magnetic sensor 43. The magnet 41 is provided to thecover 38. The yoke 42 is disposed inside the main case 202 so as to beopposite the magnet 41 in a state in which the cover 38 is closed. Themagnetic sensor 43 is disposed opposite the yoke 42.

Consequently, the when cover 38 is closed, the magnetic flux generatedby the magnet 41 is guided by the yoke 42 to the magnetic sensor 43, andthe magnetic sensor 43 detects this magnetism. This makes it possible todetect that the cover 38 is closed.

4. Other Embodiments

(A)

In this embodiment 3, in S223 and S225, control is ended after it isindirectly detected that injection needle 6 has been removed, but thirdcontrol of detecting the charging state shown in S27, S28, and S29 inEmbodiment 1 may be performed after the cover detection in S223.

In Embodiment 3, since the cover 38 is provided to the cap 203, themounting of the cap 203 is detected along with the removal of theinjection needle 6 by detecting that the cover 38 is closed. Therefore,it is not necessary to provide the second control shown in S23 and S25in Embodiment 1. In other words, the second control shown in S23 and S25in Embodiment 1 is already included in the first control shown in S223and S225 in Embodiment 2.

(B) In Embodiment 3, in S225 the user is indirectly prompted to removethe injection needle by displaying a message of “Close cover,” but mayinstead be directly prompted to remove the injection needle with amessage of “Remove needle.”

(C)

The message of “Close cover” may indicate the closing of the cover notonly directly, but also indirectly.

The indirect display for closing the cover 38 may also be a display ofan image of closing the cover on the display component 19.

(D)

In Embodiment 3, the cap 203 is provided and the main case 202 isconfigured to be detachable, but it need not be detachable. In thiscase, the portion up to the cap 203 is formed as the main case 202, andthe cover 38 is provided to the main case 202.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The pharmaceutical injection device of the present invention, and itsstorage case, are designed to prompt the user to use them properly, andare expected to find broad application to pharmaceutical injectiondevices for injecting various kinds of pharmaceutical.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1 pharmaceutical syringe mounting component    -   2 main case    -   2 s outer wall    -   3 cap    -   3 a distal end opening    -   4 syringe cover    -   4 a outer tube    -   4 b needle mounting component    -   5 pharmaceutical syringe    -   6 injection needle    -   7 lever    -   7 a distal end    -   7 b protrusion    -   7 c rear end    -   8 needle detector switch    -   9 lever    -   9 a distal end    -   9 b protrusion    -   9 c rear end    -   10 cap detector switch    -   11 piston    -   12 piston drive motor (an example of a driver)    -   13 gasket    -   14 moving member    -   15 needle insertion and withdrawal drive motor    -   16 power switch    -   17 pharmaceutical injection switch    -   18 air vent switch    -   19 display component    -   20 charging terminal    -   21 controller    -   22 encoder    -   23 motor drive circuit    -   24 current sensing circuit    -   25 charging circuit    -   26 rechargeable battery    -   27 charging detector    -   28 memory    -   29 storage case    -   30 mounting recess    -   31 power supply terminal    -   32 lid    -   33 power supply circuit    -   34 input voltage protection circuit    -   35 power input    -   36 sounder    -   37 opening    -   38 cover    -   38 a back face    -   39 protective cap    -   40 slide detector    -   41 magnet    -   42 yoke    -   42 a one end    -   42 b other end    -   43 magnetic sensor    -   50 attachment component    -   51 biasing component    -   52 biasing component    -   53 placement component    -   54 selector switch    -   54 a, 54 b selector switch    -   55 check window    -   56 latching component    -   57 spring    -   58 gear    -   101 pharmaceutical injection device    -   102 pharmaceutical injection device    -   103 pharmaceutical injection device    -   202 main case    -   202 a front face    -   202 b end face    -   203 cap    -   203 a face    -   204 syringe cover    -   301 pharmaceutical syringe mounting component    -   301 a fulcrum    -   301 b needle mounting component    -   301 c latched component

1. A pharmaceutical injection device, comprising: a main case that has apharmaceutical syringe mounting component to which a pharmaceuticalsyringe is mounted; a piston that is provided movably with respect tothe pharmaceutical syringe mounted to the pharmaceutical syringemounting component; a driver that drives the piston; a power switch thatswitches power on and off; a display component that is provided to themain case; a needle mounting component; a needle detector that isprovided to the main case and directly or indirectly detects whether aninjection needle is mounted to the needle mounting component; and acontroller that, after a user switches off the power switch, executes afirst control that displays on the display component a message directlyor indirectly prompting the user to remove the injection needle when theneedle detector detects that the injection needle is mounted to theneedle mounting component, wherein the main case has: an opening formedopposite a distal end of the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component;and a cover for opening and closing the opening, wherein the injectionneedle protrudes from the opening when the injection needle is mountedto the needle mounting component, and wherein the needle detectorindirectly detects whether the injection needle is mounted to the needlemounting component by detecting whether the cover is open or closed. 2.A pharmaceutical injection device, comprising: a main case that has apharmaceutical syringe mounting component to which a pharmaceuticalsyringe is mounted; a piston that is provided movably with respect tothe pharmaceutical syringe mounted to the pharmaceutical syringemounting component; a driver that drives the piston; a power switch thatswitches power on and off; a display component that is provided to themain case; a needle mounting component; a needle detector that isprovided to the main case and directly or indirectly detects whether aninjection needle is mounted to the needle mounting component; acontroller that, after a user switches off the power switch, executes afirst control that displays on the display component a message directlyor indirectly prompting the user to remove the injection needle when theneedle detector detects that the injection needle is mounted to theneedle mounting component; and a cap that is disposed on a distal endside of the pharmaceutical syringe mounting component and that isremovably attached to or removed from the main case, wherein the caphas: an opening formed opposite a distal end of the pharmaceuticalsyringe mounting component; and a cover for opening and closing theopening, wherein the injection needle protrudes from the opening whenthe injection needle is mounted to the needle mounting component, andwherein the needle detector indirectly detects whether the injectionneedle is mounted to the needle mounting component by detecting whetherthe cover is open or closed.
 3. The pharmaceutical injection deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the detector has: a magnet that isprovided to the cover; a yoke that is disposed inside the main case soas to be opposite the magnet when the cover is closed; and a magneticsensor that is disposed opposite the yoke.
 4. The pharmaceuticalinjection device according to claim 1, wherein the controller promptsthe user to remove the injection needle by directly or indirectlyprompting on the display component the user to close the cover in thefirst control.
 5. The pharmaceutical injection device according to claim1, further comprising: a charging terminal that is provided to the maincase and is removably connected to an external power supply terminal;and a charging detector that is connected via a charging circuit to thecharging terminal and detects a charging state, wherein the controllerexecutes a third control to display on the display component a messageprompting the user to connect the charging terminal to a power supplyterminal when the charging detector detects a non-charging state afterthe first control.
 6. The pharmaceutical injection device according toclaim 2, wherein the detector has: a magnet that is provided to thecover; a yoke that is disposed inside the main case so as to be oppositethe magnet when the cover is closed; and a magnetic sensor that isdisposed opposite the yoke.
 7. The pharmaceutical injection deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the controller prompts the user to removethe injection needle by directly or indirectly prompting on the displaycomponent the user to close the cover in the first control.
 8. Thepharmaceutical injection device according to claim 2, furthercomprising: a charging terminal that is provided to the main case and isremovably connected to an external power supply terminal; and a chargingdetector that is connected via a charging circuit to the chargingterminal and detects a charging state, wherein the controller executes athird control to display on the display component a message promptingthe user to connect the charging terminal to a power supply terminalwhen the charging detector detects a non-charging state after the firstcontrol.
 9. A storage case in which the pharmaceutical injection deviceaccording to claim 5 is stored, said storage case comprising: a mountingrecess in which the main case of the pharmaceutical injection device ismounted; and the power supply terminal, wherein the power supplyterminal is provided to the mounting recess and is removably connectedto the charging terminal.
 10. A storage case in which the pharmaceuticalinjection device according to claim 8 is stored, said storage casecomprising: a mounting recess in which the main case of thepharmaceutical injection device is mounted; and the power supplyterminal, wherein the power supply terminal is provided to the mountingrecess and is removably connected to the charging terminal.